Apart from cremation, Vergeire said burial of Covid-19 positive patients is allowed if they will be properly sealed in two body bags before they are placed in a coffin.

"At present our hospitals have the capacity to store cadavers in their morgues while family members prepare the burial or cremation. The DILG is in charge of the management of the dead. The DILG will assign a focal person who will coordinate concerns on cremation or management of cadavers," she said.

To prevent the disease from spreading, Vergeire said the bodies of deceased Covid-19 patients are transferred from the hospital to the mortuary the soonest possible time following the guidelines on the management of the cadavers.

Meanwhile, Vergeire reported that DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III visited East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) for an investigation, following reports about cadavers piling up in its morgue.

"Nagkaroon po ng video conference call ang ating kalihim at ang lahat ng chief of hospitals sa Metro Manila para pag-usapan ang bagay na ito, seryosong akusasyon po ito at kailangan siguraduhing ng pamahalaan na walang omission of information na magaganap (The Secretary had a video call with all the hospital chiefs in Metro Manila to talk about this, [because] this is a serious accusation and the government must ensure that no omission of information will happen)," she said.

Vergeire added that the EAMC already reported that it has secured a mobile freezer for the storage of unclaimed bodies of patients with or without Covid-19 and that the Quezon City Council was tasked to manage any unclaimed bodies and to shoulder the cost of cremation if funding from next of kin is unavailable. (PNA)